Drought crisis: 105 days of useable water left

As at 13 March 2017, dam levels have dropped to 30%, which is 1,5% down from a week ago.

With the last 10% of a dam’s water mostly not being useable, dam levels are effectively at approximately 20%, with 105 days of useable water left at current consumption levels.

However, consumption has continued to decline and is now at 751 million litres per day – 51 million litres above the collective usage target of 700 million litres per day.

The City of Cape Town thanks those consumers who have stepped up their efforts to reduce water consumption dramatically. However, it remains crunch time and further reductions are vital as the draw-down rate of the dams continues to stay pronounced due to the climatic conditions.

The City has also been testing further pressure reduction initiatives to reduce consumption.

‘The City will carry on deploying a basket of consumption reduction interventions. The sustained support of every one of our close to one million consumers is key. We also continue to engage with the top 20 000 consumers across residential, business, industrial and government properties to ensure that consumption is brought down. As it pertains to our top 100 residential consumers, where leaks on private property were the cause for the unacceptably high use, private leaks have been identified and fixed. These consumers have been removed from the list. This is the outcome that we want: for residents to take responsibility for consumption and then to reduce it. We are extremely encouraged by the response across all sectors.

‘In addition, the City continues planning for the implementation of contingency and emergency measures in conjunction with the National Department of Water and Sanitation,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.

Residents can contact the City via email to water.restrictions@capetown.gov.za for queries or to report contraventions (evidence should be provided to assist the City’s enforcement efforts) or they can send an SMS to 31373.

For further information, residents should please visit the water restrictions page on the City’s website